"irish food" news and stories

• St. Patrick's Day is over, but Irish comfort food transcends the holiday.
• Speaking of the Irish, let's hear it for potatoes.
• Pig ears, anyone?...Anyone?
• Okay, then, how about chicken thighs? That's more like it.

Happy Corned Beef and Cabbage Day!

In honor of St. Patrick's Day, today's culinary holiday is devoted to this traditionally Irish dish -- or, at least a dish that has been attributed as such stateside, even if its popularity in Ireland has been challenged. Named for the British terminology of "corn," in reference to the meat's increased granular texture, corned beef is typically cured in brine, which amps up its saltiness and flavor.

The bloggers of TheBittenWord.com tackled a Martha Stewart recipe for their St. Patrick's Day feast (pictured above), noting that, despite the two-week brining time, the recipe is remarkably simple, yielding "perfectly tender and juicy [beef], with a great balance of aromatic spices from the brine and the salt." Try the recipe yourself -- it may just become a meat-and-potatoes staple to your recipe repertoire.

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Does your grocery bag include a freshly baked baguette and locally grown basil and apples? The trend to consume high-quality artisanal foods persists despite the increasing costs of basic foods worldwide. A recent article from the Irish Independent explains that Ireland is going local and organic. According to recent studies, almost half of Irish grocery shoppers have purchased an organic product in the last month. Annual sales in organic produce alone exceed 100 million pounds.

Just this month, there will be a series of events in Ireland promoting local and organic produce, meat, bread, and cheese. The first one begins this weekend in Dublin at Marks & Spencer where grocery shoppers will have the opportunity to meet the farmers producing local produce. The next is National Organic Week when there will be a series of events on farms. Next weekend is the Septemberfest Food and Drinks Fair. September is an important month for Irish produce and they're taking every opportunity to enjoy it.

According to this article, buying organic in Ireland seems to imply local. In the U.S., buying organic is not necessarily environmentally friendly, because it often means that products from another part of the country or globe are flown and/or driven to your food store. I would encourage many of us this month to do as the Irish do - explore the incredible diverse produce that's available locally. September is a great month for American produce too.

We here at Slashfood aren't the only food blog that's celebrating St. Patrick's Day. Here's a peek at other food blogs that are taking a big bite of green from around the food blogosphere:

• The Culinary Fool puts together a traditional Irish pub plate, the Ploughman's Platter
• World on a Plate investigates the new sophistication of Irish cuisine
• Chicago Foodies explain how to order a "Black and Tan" depending on where you are
• Andrea's Recipe Box has one for Irish Soda Bread
• Beef brisket gets slow cooked with Guinness at Taste Everything Once
• Off the Broiler seeks out the elusive Shamrock Shake
• She's not a Domestic Diva, but she can make colcannon
• Albion Cooks Irish Chocolate Whiskey Cakes
• Rani and Raja also do an Irish Soda Bread
• Kiplog's food blog directs us to a few places in and around Chicago to celebrate

Irish steel cut oats, like McCann's, make oatmeal that is out of this world, but they are also very versatile. The oats can be used in savory applications, like oat risotto, as well as sweet ones. McCann's has a recipe on their website for a variation on oat cakes that use steel cut oats. Oat cakes are flat biscuits or crackers that are made with oats. They are fairly plain on their own, but the flavor of the oats and the crunch of the biscuit make them pair perfectly with cheese and other spreads. They're a great addition to a cracker tray when serving appetizers or for snack food at any time.